YO HEY SPACE GRUMPS STUFF YEAH
Also on ao3 now :) @dannyaviclan
Darkness . And suffocation. And the sharp pain of needles pricking into every inch of his exposed body.
It filled Danâs head as he breathed harshly into the air around him. His hands squeezed at his sheets, eyes wide open, as he searched for something to ground him. Remind him he wasnât in that /horrible/ place anymore.
With another shuddered breath, Dan pushed himself up to a sitting position, reaching aimlessly along the side table for the light before remembering that wasnât the way to turn a light on in the future.
Running the same hand down his face, Dan let his eyes fall shut, quietly asking, âBarry. Lights please?â Shivering as they flickered on.
Slowly he opened his eyes, squinting at the harsh change in lighting, and felt a little relief seep into him.
He was home. It was okay. They couldnât touch him here. Brian and Arin wonât let them.
Heâd already been back a week and still the memories plagued him. Still he jumped at unexpected noises. And tensed up at the sound of footsteps approaching. And flinched at any sort of raised object.
Heâd been saved and yet still he kept acting like he hadnât.
It was pathetic.
Dan rubbed at his eyes painfully, refusing to let that escalate any further, and got up on shaky limbs to grab his leather jacket. It always made him feel good, with the long gone earthy scent and band patches holding it together.
Slipping it on, Dan sighed, walking across the room to curl up in a big arm chair. He ran a thumb over the dull pink stitching along the left arm. A phantom pain shot through his wrist.
Right. Arin must have sewed it back together after theyâd taken him.
With a deep breath, Dan pulls his legs up to his chest and looks up to the ceiling, where he often discerns Barry to be located at.
âHey Barry? Where is Arin at? Is he asleep?â
âThe Captain is currently drawing in the observation deck. Should I call him down here?â
Dan shakes his head after breathing through the crackling through the speakers. It was eerily similar to⊠well. Yeah.
âAre you okay, Danny?â
The often times human like A.I. always through Dan off. He was a friend but a machine. But then again, so is Ross. Barry is just a spaceship rather than a robot. Android. Whatever.
âYeah man. Iâm okay. I just-⊠I donât know man. I should be okay. I am okay.â
âYou should go talk to Arin. Heâs worried about you.â
Dan sucked in a breath, glancing around subconsciously in suspicion. âHow do you know? Did he tell you anything?â
âMm no. I can tell. Plus he keeps scratching out incomplete drawings. And he hasnât taken off his gloves since we got you back. Theyâre pretty big indicators that something is bothering him. Itâs only logical that heâs worried about you.â
He rubbed his thumb over the pink stitching again. Tracing the thin string with his eyes. Dan idly wondered why Arin sewed the leather together rather than just use some kind of future clothing fixer thing. Thatâs how he kept fixing Brianâs shit right? In any case, Dan was happy for the more modern, or well maybe not modern anymore, way of fixing things. The stitching made him feel safe. More at home.
âMaybe I willâŠ,â he finally replied, Barry humming at his response.
âSo do it.â
Dan huffed a weak laugh and shoved his gangly legs to the floor, pulling himself out of the chair. âIâm going! Geeze. Nice talking to you too, Barry.â
âDanny, you know I love our interactions. But you and I both know Iâm not the one to be talking to right now. In fact, later tomorrow you should hang out with Brian as well. Heâs been testier than usual.â
âI just got everyone worked up, huh.â
âWell yeah man. Everyone loves you. With all due respect, I think you were the most ideal person to take out of all of us. You just⊠Everyone loves you. So much.â
With a flush, Dan started at the wall, shaking his head and tugging the jacket closer as he pulled his blanket up to wrap tightly around himself. âUhh I guess. Thanks Barry. I donât think Ross was too affected though. He seems to still be suspicious of me.â
âYouâd be surprised. Now quit stalling. Go talk to Arin. Before I cut off the power in here.â
Flipping him off with a laugh, Dan walked out the door with a roll of his eyes, blanket cape trailing behind him dramatically. âYeah yeah. You have too much power.â His laugh quickened a bit as he ran for the door, the lights in his room flickering. âIâm going! Fuck dude! Chill.â
The lights stopped, staying on in the dull white they usually shown as Dan exited the room.
The observation deck. Right.
Just as Barry said, there sat Arin, plain as day, quietly doodling with his back to Dan. And that was odd. Arin usually perked up to his scent before Dan even entered the room.
As Arin let out a frustrated growl, pencil almost ripping through the thin paper, Dan cleared his throat, causing Arin to jump, pencil skittering across the floor.
Dan quietly picked it up before making his way next to Arin, plopping down to a criss cross Applesauce.
âHey.â
Arin looked at Dan with wide eyes, drawing pad close to his chest. Dan raised an eyebrow, half smirk lingering on his face. âI didnât mean to scare you. Sorry man.â
With a quick shake of his head, Arin looked back down before tucking some hair behind his ear. It was usually up when he was feeling professional, but he kept it down otherwise. âItâs okay dude. I just wasnât expecting you to be out and about. Especially at this hour.â
âDoes time even exist in space? I mean each planet has itâs own day and night cycle so like. Technically when weâre drifting, canât we just like make our own cycle?â
âUhm well I guess thatâs true. But Iâve tried to keep going by terraâs cycle ya know? Itâs what Iâm used to.â
Dan hummed in response, pulling up his knees and pulling the blanket tighter. He took in Arinâs tense form, sweat pants pulled taut and the back of his black shirt lightly perpetrated with sweat. Maybe Dan shouldnât have come⊠Maybe he was intrudingâŠ
âUh sorry. I just⊠couldnât sleep. I can go though, if youâd rather be a-â
âN-no! No itâs fine. I just wasnât expecting you. But for real, Danny. Itâs fine.â
Dan frowned, looking out the window at the vastness of space. âYou never call me Danny. Or well, you do when Iâm being particularly dense. Or when youâre worried about me. Or when youâre upset. So am I being stupid right now? Or did something happen.â
With a sigh, Arin laid his head on Danâs shoulder, eyes shut, gloved fists clenched. âIâm not upset. And youâre not stupid. I justâŠ. Iâm glad youâre back, man. I REALLY really am. Itâs just⊠ugh. Sorry. I donât know. Iâm glad youâre okay.â
Dan hummed, gripping his thin pajama pants as a distraction for his hands. He looked down at Arin, a light smile being forced. For Arinâs sake. âHey dude, itâs fine. Iâm okay now. Because you guys saved me. Thank you by the way. I donât think Iâve said that yet.â
Arin was quiet for a few seconds before letting out a low huff. He sat up straighter, but kept his head down, face curtained by hair. âYou really donât remember us saving you, huh.â
âUhm. Yeah? Or at least, parts. I remember you kicking the door down. And I remember Brian picking me up. Or⊠no. He went to pick me up? But then you did. Itâs all⊠Sorry. Like I said. Parts. I also remember Mark being on the ship? He helped heal me, right? Because I was pretty messed up? Still pretty messed upâŠ. But he helped with at least the physical wounds. Though I have this wicked scar on my side now.â
Arin cleared his throat and clutched the pad a little tighter. His voice was low enough to force Dan to strain to hear him. As if speaking too loud would shatter the window separating them from the void outside. âYou uh. Yeah. You were just⊠I remember laughing with you. About something stupid. And thinking, ânothing could get better than thisâ. But then we took that fucking job. And you were taken. And I just⊠I just watched. I couldnât move-â
âYou were paralysed, Ar. Remember? They shot you.â
âIt doesnât matter!â He growled. Dan stared with wide eyes at his friendâs feral expression. It was⊠scary. Honestly. And that was the last word Dan would associate with Arin. âThey took You! They took you right from under me and I couldnât do a Damn thing! Ross told me something was fishy about that job! But no! I just /had/ to take it. And then you were gone and I didnât know what to do and we didnât even know who they were and I just-â
âArin, itâs fine though. You saved me. Itâs okay-â
This time Arin stood up, eyes nearly glowing in the dark as he stared down at Dan. He looked every inch of rage and frustration. âItâs not okay, Dan. Itâll never be okay until I rip those bastards piece by fucking piece for what they did to you. You may not really remember what happened but I do! I remember the look on your face. Like I was about to eat you alive. How you kept asking for me and Brian to save you and fighting is, like we were imposters. I remember how your fucking fingers were twisted and broken and misshapen and the way your body looked paper thin and all the cuts and bruises, like they just tossed you about. I fucking remember Daniel. And itâs not something Iâm going to ever forget. So no. Itâs not okay. Because I had to get you out of there. I tried to kill them. Every fucking one, but I had to get to you. I let them take you. I had to be the one to save you.â
Dan stood up too, blanket falling into a forgotten puddle, and taking in Arinâs now defeated and angered form. He stepped forward, trying to deny the shaking in his hands. Honestly it was horrifying. Hearing about everything they went through while he was gone. And Dan is building brick wall after brick wall in his mind as the memories resurfaced. But he couldnât afford to have a break down here. Not when Arin needed him.
Dan took Arinâs shorter but thicker hands into his, rubbing his thumb gently into the knuckles, trying to get Arin to at least relax his hands. It kind of worked, as Arin slowly uncurled them, only to grip Danâs in a much tighter grip than he was expecting. âYou did save me though. You did it, Ar. You came in and took out those in your way and got me out of that Hell. Itâs over. And Iâm never going to leave again, okay? I promise.â
âBut what if-â
âNo.â Dan shook his head, pulling Arin into a tight hug. Claws dug into his back despite the thick gloves and Dan was pretty sure that was tears being pressed against his neck, but he didnât care. He meant what he said. He was never going to leave. Those on this ship are his family. Even if he found a way back to his time, Dan didnât care. Brian, Arin, Barry, Ross, everyone. He wasnât leaving them anytime soon.
Dan pulled back and tried to look at Arinâs eyes but the hair was too thick and it appeared Arin wasnât going to help him out anytime soon. So with a frustrated grunt, Dan kept an arm around Arinâs shoulders, raising the other to move some hair behind his ear again. âArin. Look at me.â
Slowly, but surely, Arin looked up at Dan, but kept drifting his eyes across the room, not sure what to focus on. Dan sighed. It would just have to do. âHey,â he said a bit softer, his smile now coming a bit easier. âArin. Iâm okay. Youâre okay. Weâre okay. You did it, man. You saved me and yeah okay so things still suck ass, but at least we have each other, right? And the shipâs still intact. And we know who the bad guys are now. So thatâs a plus, right?â
Arin nodded, looking down again. âTheyâre the same people that⊠let this happen to me. I was- I was taken prisoner and they just⊠let it happen and-â
âHey. You donât have to tell me. Not until youâre ready.â
Arin nodded again, a relieved sigh falling from his lips. âThanks Dan. Though I should be comforting you here. Iâm your Captain. Hell, none of this even happened to me. I should be fi-â
âMmm nope. Youâre my friend. And youâre a person. With thoughts and emotions just like the rest of us. Youâre allowed to be freaked out when bad people kidnap your best friend.â
Arin made a self deprecating sound in his laugh and subconsciously held Dan a little tighter, staring at the pink thread in the leather jacket Dan loved so much. âThatâs the first time youâve said it out loud. Or at least that Iâve heard.â
âIs it? Weird.â
They fell into silence as Dan drew Arin into a second Hug. Arin needed it, and he didnât mind so what was the harm.
âIâm really glad youâre safe, Danny,â Arin whispered as he buried his face in Danâs neck.
Smiling, Dan nodded back, pressing his lips to the side of Arinâs head, just above his ear. âMe too, man. Iâm glad youâre safe, too.â












